EAST CAPE VOTERS MUST LEAVE TOWN TO BALLOT

EAST CAPE GIRARDEAU, Ill. -- East Cape Girardeau voters will have to travel six miles up the road to McClure to vote in their city elections April 13.

East Cape Girardeau Mayor Joe Aden doesn't like the new arrangement.

"I don't think we should have to travel outside our own incorporated limits to vote in our own municipal election," Aden said.

In the past, municipal elections were held at the Bud Pierce Community Center, including the election two years ago.

But Alexander County Clerk Louis Maze explained that the 1997 election was an exception.

Several years ago, Alexander County commissioners consolidated a number of precincts to streamline elections and save money.

In Cairo the number of precincts went from 10 to five. Tamms and Elco precincts were combined. Cache and Miller City precincts were combined, and the East Cape Girardeau and McClure precincts were combined.

In 1997, the East Cape Girardeau municipal election was the only issue on the ballot, Maze said. So the election was moved to East Cape Girardeau, but this year, the election includes Shawnee School District elections.

"If we split up the two precincts we would have to hire five more election judges," Maze said.

In addition, the voting books for both communities have been consolidated. "It would be a heck of a job to separate those books," Maze said.

The election could be held in East Cape Girardeau, he explained, but voters from McClure and surrounding areas would have to drive further than six miles to vote.

"There are twice as many people living in McClure and all the people living in the hills that will vote in the school election," Maze said. "We decided just to leave it at the regular polling place."

Aden would like to see the East Cape Girardeau polling place reinstated.

"Our people, to vote in their own municipal election, must drive to another town," Aden said.

Four people are running for three village trustee seats.

If the election were held in East Cape Girardeau, Aden estimated the turnout might be as high as 50 people.

"But in McClure, I just don't know," Aden said. "I don't think our people want to travel six miles to vote in their own election."